The Indian Space Research Organisation officially confirmed the Chandrayaan-4 lunar sample return mission will launch in June 2026 using the LVM-3 rocket, marking India most ambitious space project to date. Unlike the orbiter and lander missions of its predecessors, Chandrayaan-4 will attempt to land in the lunar south polar region, collect rock and soil samples from a depth of one metre, and return them to Earth in a sample return capsule — a first for ISRO and only the third country in the world after the US and China to achieve such a mission.
ISRO Chairman S. Somanathan said Chandrayaan-4 is a mission of immense scientific significance that will help answer fundamental questions about the origin of the solar system and the presence of water ice on the Moon. The mission budget has been set at Rs 2,104 crore. A dedicated team of 800 scientists and engineers has been working on the mission since 2021. The mission will also test in-space docking technology for the first time, a critical capability for future lunar gateway and Gaganyaan crewed missions.